Wednesday, November 6, 2024

England v New Zealand: Beauden Barrettto start at fly-half

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Beauden Barrett has been picked ahead of Damian McKenzie at fly-half for New Zealand’s meeting with England on Saturday.

Barrett started at 10 only once in the Rugby Championship earlier this year, with McKenzie steering the side from stand-off for the first five games.

Barrett, a former two-time World Player of the Year, spent the early part of this year playing for Japanese side Toyota Verblitz as part of a sabbatical agreed with New Zealand Rugby.

Elsewhere, Beauden’s brother Jordie Barrett is back from injury and comes into midfield at the expense of Anton Lienert-Brown, while loose-head prop Tamaiti Williams is one of only three players to keep their places from the warm-up win over Japan.

Cortez Ratima starts at scrum-half with Cam Roigard on the bench alongside McKenzie.

Second row Scott Barrett captains his two brothers and the rest of the side, with Sam Cane and Ardie Savea joined in the back row by Wallace Sititi, who wins his seventh cap.

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